Breaking News

WATCH: The #Hashtag Turns 10 Today - #HappyBirthday!

125 million are used every day, but just 10 years ago that number was zero. Yes, it is honestly pretty difficult to remember a time where we didn't have a #hashtag, right?

It turns out that 10 years ago today (August 23) the hashtag was born. Doesn't that make you feel kind of old?

Chris Messina (he's an inventor) recalls there being a discussion amongst Twitter's first users about finding a way to make conversations flow better. With an onslaught of messages it was tough to follow a conversation. He has told some publications that there was a call for message boards.

Once the iPhone came out (earlier that year) it started to become clear, apparently.

Messina tweeted an idea the the pound sign (remember when # meant pound sign, but not hashtag?) be used to organize a conversation:

how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg>?

By, the way, why didn't Messina get a patent on the #hashtag? He said he never applied for because he knew a patent would limit its widespread adaption. Plus, he admits that he actually had no desire to make money off of his invention.